“The Sighing Hours is part sex farce, part supernatural chiller and, ultimately, a richly-layered southern gothic rock opera. Set on a sea island along the South Carolina coast, a youthful crew of endearingly dysfunctional beach bums, slackers and stoners warmly embrace the local Afro-Caribbean island culture. Their perfect summer is interrupted when an ancient spirit appears to extract human sacrifices in return for the gifts bestowed by the bountiful local ecology. A beloved local Root Doctor has been preparing for this moment for decades and may have the answers, but at what cost?” With partners spread across the entire Southeast, the world premiere of The Sighing Hours will be a large regional event with national appeal and a strong charitable mission that addresses issues of heritage, diversity and ecology as the building blocks of The Southern Experience. We will raise awareness and funds for related causes here in Nashville as well as in our partners’ cities, Memphis, TN and Charleston, SC.